A/N: Updated as of 1/21/2014. Cara is getting better. But she is still moving slowly, bear with us.

Y6: Water By The Spoonful

They brought in a Squib who taught Grammar in Muggle Schools. His name was Professor McCafferty, or plain old "Mac", and he often dealt with special need Muggles. Dumbledore asked him in to Hogwarts to work with Cara after he heard her mumble some of the words to the school song.

"Water," Mac said pouring a bit of water and washing her hands with it, "Say it with me, Cara. Water. Wa- terrr."

She frowned at him slowly analyzing what he had said. As she thought, he poured more water on her hands and she boldly said, "Wad-her."

"Good, good," Mac smiled, "Now, Cup. Cuh-puh. Can you say that, Cara? Can you say cup-uh?"

"Cub," Cara glared at her hands knowing that wasn't the right word, "Cuh- cup. Cup?"

Mac smiled and nodded, "Very, very good. Cup!"

Cara smiled and pointed to the Professor, "Mac," then she pointed to the Professor's jug of water, "water," and then took the tea cup from his hand, "cup!"

"Magnificent, Cara!" Mac smiled as he pulled out another object. It was a wand that though Mac owned to feel in touch with his wizard side, it did not work so he sighed as he said, "Wand, Cara, wand."

"Wand," Cara smiled recognizing the object. She had one didn't she? Wasn't in her front pocket where she had kept it since First Year? She reached for the pocket to her pants, it was empty. She checked the other, nothing there. She was frantic as she touched her back pockets then fumbled with her body. Her wand?! Where was HER wand?! She cried out, "Wand! Wand! Cara Wand, wh-wh-where's wand?!"

She began to stand but the Professor pushed her back down, "No, no, Cara. It's okay! It is okay."

Cara fought against his grip as she cried, "Wand. My wand! I wa-wa-want my wand!"

The Professor hushed the girl but yelled out for Madame Pomfrey. The woman came bustling over getting caught in the curtains that divided them from the rest of the hospital wing. Panting she asked, "What? What's wrong? Why is she crying?!"

"Never you mind! Cast a sleeping smell or something quickly!" Mac yelled pushing Cara to her bed.

The nurse glared but flicked her wand and Cara stopped fighting falling in to a sleep. "We do not yell in my hospital wing, Professor! I had thought she broke out!"

Mac ignored her nagging and mumbled before rushing out, "I am done with her."

Before he even hit the stairwell, Dumbledore appeared around the corner.

"Professor Dumbledore, I was on my way to see you!" Mac said surprised.

"And I was going to see you. Are you ending the lesson so early?" Dumbledore tilted his head.

"No, no, well yes, but you won't believe it Professor. I mean it was taking a while to get her to remember how to pronounce letters but I got her to connect words with object. And that went fine. But then I said wand! And oh, Professor, it was magnificent! She was crying and yelling and then all of a sudden she remembered! She said a full sentence! Well not exactly a full sentence, but close! It was very, very close! If only you'd seen it," Mac beamed.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he said, "If only I had. That's a great success, Professor McCafferty. I will go see her now."

Mac frowned, "We had to put her to sleep. She was too bothered by not having her wand."

Dumbledore nodded, "Well then you are welcomed to hang about the castle, Professor."

Mac opened his mouth but Dumbledore glided by him and in to the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore walked in and nodded a greeting to Pomfrey before stepping in to Cara's closed off bed. Her eyes were puffed up from crying as drool dribbled from her mouth onto the pillow. She breathed heavily as Dumbledore's eyes fell upon her.

"Keep remembering," he whispered to the sleeping girl placing a hand on her head before striding back out.

…..

It was the day before Halloween. The Gryffindor Common Room was filled from wall to wall with happy Gryffindors preparing for the festivities. Every year, Gryffindor threw a big party for all years where there were fun little games like bobbing for apples (a more magical thus much more difficult than the Muggle game), costume contests for first and second years, and a version of Exploding Snaps that could have as many players as you wanted. But when the first through fourth years were sent to bed, the real festivities began. The firewhiskey would be brought out and drunken games of beer pong and limbo (don't judge the Gryffindors, it's actually really hard when you have so many drinks in you).

The Gryffindor sixth year girls were hanging up banners by hand only because Lily insisted it was more fun.

"You said that last year and I almost fell off the ladder," Marlene glared.

Lily raised an eyebrow, "Is it my fault that you're a klutz?"

Marlene scoffed, "I am not!"

"Are too!" little Mary cheered, "Do you remember the one week where we stayed at Cara's and you thought it be funny to sneak into her father's office and you tripped and spilt ink all over his parchments!"

"Sod off, Diven," Marlene scowled, "Besides I'm not as bad as Lily!"

"Excuse me?" Lily laughed.

"Oh c'mon, Lils, you can't honestly believe that you are a stable person! I mean must we speak of flying lessons!" Emmeline teased.

"That was first year!" Lily defended herself.

"And have you gotten any better?" Dori chuckled, "I think not!"

"Oh, just hang the bloody banner!" Lily muttered.

The girls laughed at Lily's frustration as Mary and Dorcas tied it above the fireplace. The two hopped back down to join the other girls.

"Do you know what you're being for Halloween?" Emmeline poked at Mary.

"I honestly don't know, has anyone an idea?" Mary looked around but everyone shook their head no.

Marlene laughed a little, "Do you remember how Cara dressed up like the Fat Lady last year?"

"Yeah," Lily smiled faintly, "she had the clothes, the portrait frame… everything."

"And the year before that," Mary smiled gripping on to Emmeline's arm, "she was Nearly Headless Nick!"

"No, no! She was a headless Nick! Remember she wore her shirt up past her head and replicated Nick's and then when people thought it was him until she tossed her 'head' at James' face!" Dorcas laughed.

"Oh that's right!" Mary laughed and the girls laughed along.

"What do you think she'd be this year?" Dorcas wondered.

"I don't think anyone is smart enough to get in to her mind," Emmeline said.

"Or crazy enough," Marlene laughed.

They all laughed but it died quickly and it felt awkward. It wasn't right to joke when Cara wasn't there… it just wasn't right.

"I think I'm going to go to the Library," Lily smiled grabbing her books.

"You're not going to finish setting up?" Mary was surprised.

Lily shook her head, "I-I just want to focus on my Muggle Studies essay."

"Lily," Marlene said confused, "You're muggle born. Doesn't that just come naturally?"

Lily shrugged, "I just have to go."

They all understood and frowned as they watched her leave.

When she squeezed her way out of the Common Room, she went off on a sprint in the opposite direction of the Library.

Don't cry, Evans, DON'T CRY! Lily told herself. She's fine now, she's safe.

But no matter how many times Lily told herself everything would be okay, one tear after the other fell onto her cheek. A bathroom was just down the corridor, she could see it. Her legs picked up speed as she went to it; but out of nowhere someone walked out from the perpendicular corridor and knocked her right over. She gasped loudly as she fell to the floor, her knees banging together.

"Son of a—" someone started.

"Are you insane?!" Lily yelled as she rubbed her elbow where it slammed to the ground.

"Me?!"

Oh no! Lily knows that voice. "Potter!"

James looked at her confused, "Evans, are- are you crying?"

Lily turned her head quickly wiping at her tears as she muttered a simple, "No."

"Bloody hell, you are," James said surprised, "I'm sorry- I didn't see you. Honestly."

Lily didn't look at him as she waved him away, "Forget it, Potter."

"No, no, I'm really sorry! I- I didn't mean to—"

"Potter!" she snapped her head and glared, "I said for-get-it!"

He threw his hands up in compliance, "Alright, alright…. I guess I'll go then."

"Yeah, just go," Lily said as she began to walk back towards the bathroom.

"Evans, if you're really not okay—"

"Sod off, Potter!"

"I'm just saying, if you want to talk then—"

"—then I'll make sure I talk to someone worth my time!" Lily cursed him.

James flinched, surprised and disgusted with her harshness. He spat out matching her, "Fine then, Evans, go right ahead and self-wallow. I don't care."

Lily didn't even care to respond as she rolled her puffy red eyes and flicked her hair with a snap of her head. She strutted in to the bathroom calmly as James stomped down the corridor quickly.

When she looked in to the mirror, she asked herself why she did that. What was it all for? She could've been nice so why did she have to go and be a git especially when she meant to apologize for last Saturday. But noooo, she had to go and be an arse to him.

She made a vow to herself. The next time I see Potter, I apologize for the other day and I apologize for today! …. He was being a bit nosy though. No! No, LILY EVANS, you APOLOGIZE!

She looked in the mirror and said to herself, "Just apologize. I can do that. I can—I can definitely, one hundred percent apologize to Potter. He deserves—" she shook her head and took a deep breath, "just do it quickly, Lily, and you don't have to deal with that smug git!"

She nodded as she liked that vow better. She walked outside of the bathroom as if nothing had happened promising to herself that she would apologize! Now if she actually does it…. Well, it depends simply on James' not acting like a selfish pig and Lily's mood that morning.

…..

Curfew was nearing and the girls were getting in to bed. Lily didn't have prefect duty tonight, so Emmeline didn't have to worry about getting caught by her.

Emmeline waited until she could hear the snores of the other girls and then she quickly jumped out of bed. She grabbed her shoes which were by the door of the dormitory. And as she opened the door, she heard the creak of a bed.

"Emmy?" the voice whispered and Emmeline turned around slowly.

"Mary," she said squinting through the darkness, "why aren't you asleep?"

Mary ignored the question and asked one of her own, "Where are you off to?"

"Erm—I uhm—I left my notebook in Binn's room," Emmeline said but then realized she had used that line quite a bit, "…again."

Though it was very dark, Emmeline could feel Mary give her the "oh-don't-lie-to-me" look.

And so Emmeline shrugged and whispered, "I'm gonna go get it!"

And then she was out before Mary could say anything. She flew down the two flight of stairs and raced across corridors. When she came to Hannibal's room, she slowed trying to catch her breath. She put her hands on the wall and tried to run over the planned conversation in her head.

Hey Toby. Hey Em. How are you? Great now that I'm with you. Oh, Tobias, you flatter me. You are the most beautiful witch I have ever seen. *Giggles* Oh hey, I heard something went on with Lily? Whatever do you mean, my love? She said you almost killed her. I would never harm your friend. She must've misunderstood me. Then why did she say you tried to curse her to bits. No I was trying to help her without the others realizing I was defending her… It got very violent, I almost didn't make it out alive. You would've died secretly helping my friend. All because I love you. I love you too, my hero! *they kiss and then make sweet passionate love*

"Sounds right," Emmeline whispered to herself and then opened the door.

Tobias was lying across the table but sat up quickly when he heard the door open.

"Emmeline," he smiled.

"Hey Toby," she said shutting the door behind her.

He stood and came over pecking her on the lips. As he took her hand to guide her to the table, Emmeline knew she had to just spit it out now.

"Were you involved in an attack on my best friend Lily Evans?" Emmeline said quickly.

"Attack?" he laughed, "I would not call that an attack!"

"But you did get into an altercation with her?!"

Toby sighed and nodded, "Yes, but it's not what you think."

Emmeline pulled away from him annoyed.

"Emmy, she pulled out her wand first!" Toby said offended, "She tried to take mine off me. If it weren't for Lucius then I wouldn't have a wand to defend myself!"

Emmeline snorted, "Lucius Malfoy…. Because he is such a hero!"

"Actually, he was," Toby said, "Your friend is a fiery little ginger! We weren't even doing anything!"

Emmeline was still looking away.

"C'mon, Emmy," he leaned in to kiss her neck but she pulled away.

"This is why we need to be public!" she complained, "If our friends knew then they wouldn't be so set on hurting each other."

"We can't." he said firmly.

"Why?! Why can't we?!"

"Because our houses hate each other! That's why!"

"Is that it?" Emmeline said loudly, "Or are you just scared?!"

"Scared? Of what?!" he yelled.

"Forget it!" she threw her hands up, "I'm leaving!"

Tobias grabbed her arm.

"Let. Go. Of. Me." She said darkly.

He pulled her closer to him and whispered just as darkly, "Don't you dare think this is how we are going to end things. I'm not letting this end."

She wretched her arm from him and gave him one last glare and then stormed out.

She wouldn't let him make a fool of her any more.

But then the words creeped into her mind again… he loved her? … didn't he?

Couples fight, don't they?

Maybe they just needed time to think. Just a bit of space and then they would be in love again. Can it work like that? Can love be that easy? Please?